Pitt volleyball nets four All-Americans

Four Pitt volleyball players were voted as first-team All-Americans on Wednesday, with three earning three First Team All-American honors and one as a Second Team All-American. 

The Panthers had the most First Team All-American selections in the NCAA this season with sophomore opposite hitter Olivia Babcock, sophomore outside hitter Torrey Stafford and senior setter Rachel Fairbanks all earning the honor.

Redshirt junior Bre Kelley was the Panthers’ lone Second Team All-American selection. 

This is the second time both Stafford and Babcock earned All-American honors in their two-year Pitt careers. Last season, Babcock was a First Team All-American and won AVCA Freshman of the Year. Stafford was Third Team All-American in her first-year campaign. 

The All-American selection for Fairbanks is her third in as many years. In 2023, Fairbanks was a First Team selection and in 2022 she was a Third Team selection. 

Kelley’s Second Team selection is the first time she has earned an All-American honor in her career. 

All of the Panthers’ All-Americans have had tremendous seasons. Babcock is a front-runner to win AVCA National Player of the Year because of her play this season. 

On Babcock’s 1,100 swings this season, she is hitting .319 and has tallied 505 kills. The star sophomore has also had 126 blocks and 203 digs. Babcock is also second in the nation in aces per set with .65 per set.

Stafford has 846 swings for the Panthers this season and is hitting .359 while tallying 382 kills. The Torrance, California native has 237 digs and 66 blocks on the season as well. 

Fairbanks has led the Pitt offense to the No. 1 hitting percentage in the nation this season, a .332 hitting percentage. Fairbanks also has a career-high 1014 assists in her 2024 campaign. The Tustin, California native also has 40 blocks, 37 aces and 211 digs this season. 

Coming off a season-ending injury in her junior year, Kelley responded with her performance in 2024. She has a .506 hitting percentage, 188 kills and 167 total blocks in the 100 sets she has played for the Panthers in 2024. 

Pitt fans can watch the Panthers’ four All-Americans in action tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. when they face off against ACC rival Louisville in the Final Four.